Katie's adventures ....part 2

My Other Adventures:

Not defeated from my rescuing, 2 days later I cycled back home to my parent’s house in Essex, which was a more manageable 112 miles!

Unfortunately I couldn’t use the photocopiers at uni to photocopy the relevant pages of my atlas and so was forced to carry the HUGE book all the way home. (not fun) I left Norwich after layering myself with suncream in beautiful sunshine, however I had chosen to cycle home on the day that it rained everywhere ALLLLLLL day! (It even broke my bike computer) After 15 miles I began to pour and it continued all the way home.

Half way through I got caught up in a bike ride about Bury St Edmunds and was told 5 miles to go, “if only” I thought, I still had 70 miles to go! But it was nice to talk to fellow cyclist for 2 or 3 miles. Boredom has been the main difficulty on these long rides. Just 4hrs left isn’t much of a comfort. But allowing myself a Clif bar or Cluf shot every-so often gives me something to look forward to other than the long term thought of my destination.

Rescuing was not needed this time! It was a great feeling to have left my house in Norwich to cycle through three counties and then arrive home to one of my mums Sunday roasts. After 100 miles on my bike, it was very satisfying to be held up by a red bus, purely because it meant I was close to home. It seems ridiculous that it is possible and actually not that hard to cycle home!

My next trip was 2 days later, I cycled to see my friend who lives in Southend for a morning coffee and then cycled home before midday. It was a lovely ride with some lovely country lanes, I didn’t see a car for 6 miles. I was unaware of how close I lived to countryside and had to stop for horses on more than one occasion! But I also encountered the narrowest, windiest, steepest and longest hill I’ve ever encountered. After a close shave with a van hurtling down the hill I was forced to stop and couldn’t start again! It’s always disappointing to have struggled up a hill, but then not be able to enjoy the decent to its full extent due to its windiness. Coming back down this particular hill was terrifying and I think it took longer to get down than it did to go up. If it wasn’t so narrow it would make a great training hill.

The next day, it was time to cycle to Cambridge in time for a team ride the next day (55 miles). Once again it was raining. 8 miles in and puncture, but the ride itself although wet was really enjoyable.

I was looking forward to the team ride as I would be riding with people (what a novelty). I’d spent a lot of time in the last few days with just me, my bike and the elements and so it was nice to have people to ride with, and share the rain!

Unfortunately we shared the punctures as well! There was only 4 of us and we managed to get 3 punctures between us in less than 15 miles. We had hoped for 80 miles, but given the wet weather we had set out with 50 in mind, but ended up with just 20. My legs were lagging a bit after my punishing few days and I was slowing down the other 3. If we had have done the planned 80, the ride home the next day may have been a struggle.

It turned out to be a struggle anyway. I was issued some new combat boots the day before, and so my back pack was once again unnecessarily heavy! After 10 miles (in the rain again) I decided it would be more comfortable to wear them and save my back. So I was proably laughed at my every car that passed me for the rest of the way home! I also managed to start following my map the wrong way and head back towards Cambridge causing me to spend an extra hour in the rain.

The following day was set to be a 130 mile day. I told my friend who lives in Brighton who was still stuck in the middle of exams that I’d cycle to see him for lunch. It sounds ridiculous, most people wouldn’t drive 65 miles to Brighton for ‘lunch’ and then go back. But training for the TCC causes you to have some crazy plans! It’s nicer to cycle somewhere for a purpose, rather than just for the sake of cycling.

            Distance wise, 65 miles is about 4 hrs away, but with map checks, and possible punctures, I expected about 6 hrs. However, I had not planned to spend 4 and a half hours in London!!! I got to London before 7am and didn’t manage to get out of London until 11.30. I was on my bike so of course it was raining - it seems to be a rule. I got a puncture and then continued, 3 miles later another puncture. I managed to snap one of my tyre levers making it very hard to repair, but then I couldn’t get my pump to attach to the valve, it was too small. I ended up walking to the nearest bike shop, hoping it would open at 9.00. It wasn’t my day as it didn’t open until 10.00. I finally got back on the road, and apart from it raining (which I’m used to now) it was all going well. Then 14 miles from Brighton – PUNCTURE!!! I didn’t arrive until 3.30, so quite a late lunch! Not the most successful ride I’ve ever had, but I had a feast waiting for me and I had still got there.

I was planning to leave by 4 to cycle home. Given that I had only got there at 3.30, I decided to just get the train home like a normal human being and make my visit worthwhile. It was a nice idea if it had worked, but I still had a good day!

So there you have it; 8 days of training, over 450 miles, 7 punctures and lots and lots of rain!